University language guide says ‘grandfather,’ ‘housekeeping' etc. are ‘problematic’ words

Discussion in 'Politics' started by ipatent, Jan 23, 2022.

  1. ipatent

    ipatent

    The linguistic Marxists still busy at work...

    University language guide says ‘grandfather,’ ‘housekeeping,’ ‘spirit animal’ are ‘problematic’ words

    The University of Washington Information Technology department released an “inclusive language guide” that lists a number of “problematic words” that are “racist,” “sexist,” “ageist,” or “homophobic.”

    According to the guide, words such as “grandfather,” “housekeeping,” “minority,” “ninja,” and “lame” are considered “problematic words.”

    For example, the language guide states that the word “lame” is considered problematic because it’s “ableist.”

    “This word is offensive, even when it’s used in slang for uncool because it’s using a disability in a negative way to imply that the opposite, which would be not lame, to be superior,” the guide states.

    The guide also states that the term “minority” implies a ‘less than’ attitude toward a certain community.

    “When ‘minority’ is used to refer to other races or abilities, used as a generalized term for ‘the other’ and implies a ‘less than’ attitude toward the community or communities being discussed,” the guide states.

    The guide considers “grandfather” a “problematic word” because the term was “used as a way to exempt some people from a change because of conditions that existed before the change.”

    “‘Grandfather clause’ originated in the American South in the 1890s as a way to defy the 15th Amendment and prevent black Americans from voting,” the guide explains.

    “Housekeeping,” is another “problematic” word that the guide recommends should be avoided by others working in the information technology industry because it can “feel gendered.”

    Phrases with “man” such as “manpower,” “man hours,” or “man-in-the-middle” is considered “not inclusive” and “thus sexist.”

    The language guide also considers “preferred pronouns” as “problematic” because the term “preferred” suggests that “a person’s pronoun is optional.”

    Language such as “no can do,” “spirit animal,” and separating groups based on certain colors is “racist” or culturally appropriative.

    According to the language guide, using “red,” white,” or “yellow” to separate different teams is based on “racist tropes.”

    “Using colors based as racist tropes — labelling [sic] ‘white’ as good, ‘black’ as bad, ‘red’ as attackers, or ‘yellow’ as excluded third parties — is offensive,” the guide states.

    The term “spirit animal” is also “problematic” because it uses “cultural appropriation,” according to the guide.

    Employees within the University of Washington Information Technology department are also encouraged to contact vendors who use the “problematic words and phrases” and ask them to avoid terms that come from “racist, ableist and/or sexist origins.”

    The webpage gives a sample prompt for employees to use when sending emails to vendors about this issue as well.

    “Unfortunately, in working with your product/service we have identified language that can be considered offensive due to its racist, ableist and/or sexist origins,” the email prompt states. “Can you let us know what efforts you are undertaking to move away from this language so as to create a more inclusive product/service?”
     
  2. Bugenhagen

    Bugenhagen

    Can you find a definition of "Linguistic Marxist" for us?
     
    Cuddles likes this.
  3. Pretty soon we won't be able to talk at all without offending someone. My lordy.
     
    KCalhoun likes this.
  4. Overnight

    Overnight

    You have already failed the woke test, because your nickname is "Fortuneteller". That means that you must be a Gypsy, because only Gypsies can be fortunetellers, right? And since gypsies are from the middle-east and eastern Europe, this is racism if we speak of them in any negative light.

    So we are not allowed to talk about it anything, except how great Xi, Putin and Un Jun II is. Wow.
     
  5. stoic

    stoic

    More 1984. Newspeak: a purposefully ambiguous and confusing language with restricted grammar and limited vocabulary used in Oceania, according or Orwell, “to diminish the range of thought.
     
  6. what about manhole cover, manslaughter and manual?
     
    KCalhoun likes this.
  7. Bugenhagen

    Bugenhagen

    But this does not make it "Marxist".

    I have to agree as has been said elsewhere, some boomers just add Marxism to anything they don't like now. It's the latest fad. Used to be saying "that's socialism!", before that "it's communism!" as a way of eliminating tiresome higher brain function effort ironically enough.

    "this cookies and cream flavour is icecream Marxism" cried a boomer somewhere.

    George Orwell (real name Eric Blair) was a committed democratic socialist, he was warning about personality cult totalitarianism which could take over any system.

    This is not Ingsoc newspeak, its just a bit annoying and stupid. Through the "cakewalk" one is interesting. Who has ever used "spirit animal" in IT?
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
    Cuddles likes this.
  8. :banghead:
     
  9. Overnight

    Overnight

    C'Mon, gotta' love my fuzzy logic there. :)
     
  10. Don't look now, but you're already there. And you make it seem so effortless.
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2022
    #10     Jan 25, 2022